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Five years later, in 1933, the National Socialists were in power, Hitler headed the government, and the communist threat was crushed decisively.

The National Socialists began undoing the social and economic damage done by their predecessors. Germany was restored to nearly full employment, degeneracy and corruption were rooted out, violent crime and suicides decreased exponentially and communists, many whom were so-called apostate Jews and their collaborators were removed from one facet of national life after another, and the German people entered a new era of national freedom, health, and prosperity. Even if it might have been clouded in propaganda and brainwashing.

Finally, in 1938, the National Socialist government got around to enacting a new firearms law to replace the one enacted by their opponents ten years earlier.

The highlights of the 1938 law, especially as it applied to ordinary citizens rather than manufacturers or dealers, follow:

• Handguns may be purchased only on submission of a Weapons Acquisition Permit (Waffenerwerbschein), which must be used within one year from the date of issue. Muzzle- loading handguns are exempted from the permit requirement.

[The 1928 law had required a permit for the purchase of long guns as well, but the National Socialists dropped this requirement.]

• Holders of a permit to carry weapons (Waffenschein) or of a hunting license do not need a Weapons Acquisition Permit in order to acquire a handgun.

• A hunting license authorizes its bearer to carry hunting weapons and handguns.

• Firearms and ammunition, as well as swords and knives, may not be sold to minors under the age of 18 years.

[The age limit had been 20 years in the 1928 law.]

• Whoever carries a firearm outside of his dwelling, his place of employment, his place of business, or his fenced property must have on his person a Weapons Permit (Waffenschein). A permit is not required, however, for carrying a firearm for use at a police-approved shooting range.

• A permit to acquire a handgun or to carry firearms may only be issued to persons whose trustworthiness is not in question and who can show a need for a permit. In particular, a permit may not be issued to:

1.) persons under the age of 18 years;

2.) legally incompetent or mentally retarded persons;

That can be see as a sweeping measure. Though the prior laws were even more stringent.

3.) Gypsies or vagabonds;

4.) persons under mandatory police supervision [i.e., on parole] or otherwise temporarily without civil rights;

5.) persons convicted of treason or high treason or known to be engaged in activities hostile to the state;

1. persons who for assault, trespass, a breach of the peace, resistance to authority, a criminal offense or misdemeanor, or a hunting or fishing violation were legally sentenced to a term of imprisonment of more than two weeks, if three years have not passed since the term of imprisonment. Keep in mind this was in 1938, 5 years after Hitler came to power.

• The manufacture, sale, carrying, possession, and import of the following are prohibited:

1.) "trick" firearms, designed so as to conceal their function (e.g., cane guns and belt-buckle pistols);

2.) any firearm equipped with a silencer and any rifle equipped with a spotlight;

3.) cartridges with .22 caliber, hollow-point bullets.

That is the essence. /u/Tom_Bombadil